# Cartoons **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429 "2003-06-21T16:37:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/41 "2003-07-15T04:48:47Z")
Some time ago I saw what seemes like the best cartoons since the Road Runner, in fact where 2 or 3 cartoons on a single program, one was called Pith Possum, Super-Dynamic Possum of Tomorrow, or something like that, it was hilarious beyond words, surrealistic anti-hero plots. The other was Tex Tinstar, blah blah… I don`t remember the full title, it had some sort of ongoing plot, but I couldn´t stick to it. The one thing I remember was an episode that ended with the Sheiff Tinstar chained to an asteroid headed to the Sun (:D) the speaker in a Texan accent was giving the closing lines, something like: "Will Tex survive this? nobody knows for sure, no, really, no-one knows, if you have any idea of how can he survive write us a letter ´cause we honestly don`t know what to do next eipisode" Brilliant 😃 My favourite old timers were the Road Runner and the Goofy “how to” cartoons. It´s a pitty cartoons are not done like that anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/42 "2003-07-15T04:52:37Z")
Ale, the spell monster that lurks the boards… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/43 "2003-07-15T12:32:56Z")
> [@](#): > > First, those were the original, hand-drawn, hand-painted, cel-based painstakingly-photographed animated movies. Cost killed 'em. Today you pay an artist $35 an hour to paint one cel, or you pay a roomful of Korean kids $35 a week, collectively, to paint enough cels for ten episodes of [iThe Simpsons\*. Hey, not **Rocky and Bullwinkle**! Part of the charm of that show was the cheap animation, which was done IIRC in Mexico. Gorgeous animation it wasn’t, which is why the show had to rely on its witty dialogue, which worked well for adults as well as kids. (“An Arabian Dhow encrusted with red gems? That must be The Ruby Yacht of Omar Khayyam!”) **Crusdaer Rabbit**! Sniff! I miss that show. I used to get up at 7 AM on Saturday mornings to watch it. Jay Ward and the Rocky Crew came up with that one, too, althgough most of the episodes I saw as a kid were a later vintage, done by another crew that, fortunately, had the same weird sense of humor. (At the end of an adventure in the Sahara, villain Dudley Nightshade – and isn’t _that_ a great name? – saves himself by ducking into a building with “AFL” written on it. “American Federation of Labor!” he gratefully exclaims, ignoring the fact that they were unlikely to be in the Sahara, and overtaxing my first grade brain. It turns out that it’s really the Arabian Foreign Legion, and he inadvertently signed up for a hitch, and so defeated himself.) ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/44 "2003-07-15T14:56:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fiztig \* > \*\*Pokemon/DragonballZ kids have no idea what they’re missing. Oh to go back to the days when cartoons were serialised and were sophisticated enough to sucker in adults as well. > > My all time favourites, in no particular order: > > [ul] > [li][_G-Force_](http://www.akdreamer.com/botp/) (aka Battle of the Planets)[/li][li][_Chorlton and the Wheelies_](http://www.chorltonandthewheelies.co.uk/)[/li][li][_Voltron_](http://www.abc-kid.com/voltron/) (Lion Force of course - the little wimpy car things sucked)[/li][li][_Astroboy_](http://www.astroboy.com.au/characters.html)[/li][li][_Belle and Sebastian_](http://www.toonarific.com/b/belleandsebastian.html)[/li][li][_Dangermouse_](http://www.dangermouse.org/)[/li][li][_The Mysterious Cities of Gold_](http://www.mysteriouscitiesofgold.com/seriesinformation.html) [/li][li][_Ulysses 31_](http://www.idi.ntnu.no/~torgerk/ulysses31/)[/li][li]_The New Adventures of [Flash](http://www.toonarific.com/n/newadventuresofflashgordon-pics.html) [Gordon](http://www.badmovieplanet.com/3btheater/n/newflashgordon.html)_ - not to be confused with [_Defenders of the Earth_](http://www.toonarific.com/d/defendersofearth.html) which was mightily crappy[/li][/ul] > > Today’s cartoons certainly lack any kind of semi-interesting and/or coherent plot. The _CareBears_, _My Little Pony_, _Rainbow Brite_ etc, along with [_TMNT_](http://www.ninjaturtles.com) started the downfall of quality cartooning. Thank god for the Simpsons - modern day cartooning’s only saving grace. \*\* OK…for the Old Fogies…Gigantor, Speed Racer, Kimba the White Lion (the one Lionking ripped off?) as well as Col Bleep, Scratch & Squeak on Zero-Zero Island. And for the semi-old: Banana splits, Hot Wheels, Whacky Races, and Cartoon Rock! (…Conjunction Junction! What’s your Function?) OK, it slipped a little with ‘Super Friends’ & ‘Sigmund the Seamonster’ (Curse you Sid&Marty Croft!!!) and ‘The Funky Phantom’ But what about ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ or the Star Wars cartoon (the one with original scores by one of the members of The Police?) or whole Spiderman saga (that one had a single evolving & consistent story line for 3 seasons with tangents that at times folded back in almost as well as Babylon5). There was the whole original X-Men series which expanded their popularity far beyond their comic books. There was Batman, the animated series, with the first American series with a Dark hero. There was The Tick, the first American animated series with an anti-Super Hero (God I Miss ‘American Maid’ who was possibly the angriest super heroine ever drawn) From the innocent Princess in Voltron to the decidedly less-than innocent girls of Sailor Moon, cartoons have come a long way. Yes, there is a good deal of Crap (‘cadillacs &dinosaurs’? Somebody had to get a pink slip over That turkey) there is still a lot of good as well. But that’s like all television… ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/45 "2003-07-15T15:06:44Z")
With some embarrassment, I have to raise a glass to _Davey and Goliath_, for some truly weird childhood flashbacks. I swear, I didn’t even realize it was meant to be religious-themed until I was in high school. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/46 "2003-07-15T15:13:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by quietman1920 \* > \*\*Cartoon Rock! (…Conjunction Junction! What’s your Function?) > > \*\* Blasphemer! It was **Schoolhouse** Rock! :mad: What, no Snorks fans? Cmon! Where’s the love? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/47 "2003-07-15T15:53:24Z")
On August 5th, Rocky & Bullwinkle’s first season will be out on DVD. Twenty-six episodes on four DVDs. I am so buying it as soon as it comes out. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/48 "2003-07-15T17:06:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Blasphemer! It was **Schoolhouse** Rock! :mad: > > What, no Snorks fans? Cmon! Where’s the love? \*\* Lolly, Lolly, Lolly! Get your Adverbs Here…! ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/49 "2003-07-15T18:13:08Z")
(Pulling out my copy of [The Moose That Roared](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312283830/qid=1058291421/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5090966-3305721?v=glance&s=books): [Crusader Rabbit](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0042097) was the FIRST made for television cartoon - ran from 1950-52 (anything later than that was reruns. [Rocky and his Friends](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0052507) (1959 - 1961) was followed by [The Bullwinkle Show](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0054524) (1961-1964) - the first was originally a morning cartoon, the latter an evening show, and one different networks, to boot. Jay Ward’s company also created cereal icons **Quisp and Quake** , and, of course, the **Cap’n Crunch** characters. What a cool company! ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/50 "2003-07-15T20:17:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > \*\*What became of: > Popeye > Roadrunner > Bugs Bunny > Rocky & Bullwinkle > Dudley Dooright > Fractured Fairy Tales > Aesop & Son > Quick Draw McGraw > Yogi Bear > Snagglepuss > Top Cat > Tobor, the 8th Man > > Now [IB]those[/IB] were cartoons. \*\* [nitpick] Dudley Dooright Fractured Fairy Tales Aesop & Son are all segments of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. [/nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/51 "2003-07-15T21:13:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fiztig \* > \*\*Pokemon/DragonballZ kids have no idea what they’re missing. Oh to go back to the days when cartoons were serialised and were sophisticated enough to sucker in adults as well. > > My all time favourites, in no particular order: > > [ul] > [li][_G-Force_](http://www.akdreamer.com/botp/) (aka Battle of the Planets)[/li][li][_Chorlton and the Wheelies_](http://www.chorltonandthewheelies.co.uk/)[/li][li][_Voltron_](http://www.abc-kid.com/voltron/) (Lion Force of course - the little wimpy car things sucked)[/li][li][_Astroboy_](http://www.astroboy.com.au/characters.html)[/li][li][_Belle and Sebastian_](http://www.toonarific.com/b/belleandsebastian.html)[/li][li][_Dangermouse_](http://www.dangermouse.org/)[/li][li][_The Mysterious Cities of Gold_](http://www.mysteriouscitiesofgold.com/seriesinformation.html) [/li][li][_Ulysses 31_](http://www.idi.ntnu.no/~torgerk/ulysses31/)[/li][li]_The New Adventures of [Flash](http://www.toonarific.com/n/newadventuresofflashgordon-pics.html) [Gordon](http://www.badmovieplanet.com/3btheater/n/newflashgordon.html)_ - not to be confused with [_Defenders of the Earth_](http://www.toonarific.com/d/defendersofearth.html) which was mightily crappy[/li][/ul] > > Today’s cartoons certainly lack any kind of semi-interesting and/or coherent plot. The _CareBears_, _My Little Pony_, _Rainbow Brite_ etc, along with [_TMNT_](http://www.ninjaturtles.com) started the downfall of quality cartooning. Thank god for the Simpsons - modern day cartooning’s only saving grace. \*\* As much as I loved Voltron growing up (it came on before I got out of school and I felt so adult-ish setting the VCR each morning to tape it), it was hardly sophisticated. Villain has evil plan, villain uses Robeast to crush, kill, and destroy, Voltron forms blazing sword and slices Robeast down the center vertically and then horizontally thus scattering the villains well-laid plans and Voltron flies off into the sunset with a laugh at the villains expense. Dangermouse though, now that was high comedy! I’d love to get my hands on those episodes. Oh crumbs! Hanna Barbera is almost solely responsible, IMO, for the lack of creativity in an entire generation of kids that grew up watching their fodder in the 70’s and 80’s. Fortunately Cartoon Network has opened up the world, in between re-runs of lame Scooby Doo episodes, to some great cartoons that actually are sophisticated and appeal to kids and adults like so few cartoons throughout the times could like Samurai Jack and even the Power Puff Girls. And then of course there is Adult Swim. Now that’s some good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/52 "2003-07-15T21:24:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RandMcnally \* > On August 5th, Rocky & Bullwinkle’s first season will be out on DVD. Twenty-six episodes on four DVDs. I am so buying it as soon as it comes out. **AGGGGGGH!** MUST BUY! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/53 "2003-07-15T21:37:47Z")
You know, for a while I thought “DragonballZ” was pronounced “Draggin’ Balls” … ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/54 "2003-07-15T22:52:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by singular1 \* > \*\*[nitpick] > Dudley Dooright > Fractured Fairy Tales > Aesop & Son > are all segments of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. > [/nitpick] \*\* Dudley got his own show, too, which may be seen on Cartoon Network’s Boomerang spinoff (which even on NYC Time Warner Cable - a corporate sibling - is only available on digital, not regular). Likewise, Popeye, Bullwinkle, Quick Draw McGraw, Yogi, Snagglepuss, and Top Cat are on regular Boomerang rotation. Looney Tunes are on CN itself, Saturday mornings - I think mainly as a gesture to our generation, not the current kiddies. ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/55 "2003-07-16T00:29:38Z")
> [@](#): > > You know, for a while I thought “DragonballZ” was pronounced “Draggin’ Balls” … I’m supposed to be an anime fan (never seen that show though) and I pronounced it that way for ages. Still can’t pronounce Evangelion correctly. By the way my husband read some of the original Dragonball manga (comic) and reports that it’s loaded with “balls” jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/56 "2003-07-21T04:39:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msmith537 \* > \*\*Dude…Smurfs were so gay…80’s style. > From what I can tell, Saturday morning cartoons have largely gone the way of bellbottems and the Rubiks cube. There are still plenty of cartoons, it just seems that: > > a) they are all on weekday mornings and afternoons (presumably before and after school), all day long on the Cartoon Network, or at odd times (like the Simpsons or Samuri Jack) > b) the plot primarily consists of a 20 minute pit fight between two sets of action-figurable characters > c) most of them suck > > Gone are the days when Hanna-Barbara ruled Saturday mornings with an iron fist. Children today will never learn the Mouse-Cat-Dog chain of command or witness the pure hilarity of a shotgun blast to the face. I guess it’s nothing but Pokemon clones and Power Rangers from here on out. > > ☹ \*\* Dude, I am so not a dude. I guess that’s why it was ok for me to like the Smurfs. 😉 ~J ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/57 "2003-07-21T09:46:57Z")
**Jaade** , _everyone_ in the eighties was a dude. “Dudette” didn’t come into wide use until the late eighties, dude. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/58 "2003-07-21T13:41:17Z")
What about _Popeye_ and the others produced by the _Merrie Melodies_ team? Rich visuals, strong storyline. A lot of them were in black and white they’re so old. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/59 "2003-07-23T01:25:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\ ***Jaade** , _everyone_ in the eighties was a dude. “Dudette” didn’t come into wide use until the late eighties, dude. \*\* But dude…I was only 10 in 1985. You can’t expect me to remember EVERYTHING! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429/60 "2003-07-23T02:27:33Z")
Kids! What’s the matter with kids today! Kids! Why can’t I understand a word they say? What’s the matter with kids? Yeah, what’s the matter with kids? What’s the matter with kids… to… day? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cartoons/183429.md?page=4)